W1zzard
Aug 16, 2005, 03:52 PM
[Page=Introduction & Packaging]
Introduction
I would like to thank Asetek (http://www.asetek.com) and Watercooling.de (http://www.watercooling.de) for making this review possible.
Ultra Low Noise (Fan regulation & Ultra Low Noise Fan)
150W CPU Cooling Capacity
Easy installation
Safe Operation
High Reliability
Low Weight
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/vapochill.gif
When you ask hardcore overclockers about companies who have the best extreme cooling gear, you can bet that Asetek is among the first mentioned. Their Vapochill Extreme Cooling Units are legendary. But those units come with a hefty price tag of over several hundred dollars.
The average user is not willing to pay that much, he does not need such mad cooling performance anyway. Also installation of those units tends to be complicated because you have to insulate all parts against condensation which would form with the subzero temperatures.
In order to offer a product more geared to the more mainstream user, Asetek has engineered the Vapochill Micro series which are based on the same physical principle as the Vapochill Extreme Cooling units.
While the principle is the same, do not expect to reach sub-zero temperatures with the Vapochill Micro, it essentially is a heatpipe cooler, just with some very clever ideas. Asetek's experience in designing high-performance cooling units sure has helped here.
There are three different Vapochill Micro products:
High-End
Extreme Performance
Low-Noise
All three share the same heatsink unit, only the fan is different. The Extreme-Performance and Low-Noise versions also include a fan speed controller.
<table border="1" class="resulttable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th colspan="2">Cooler</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Dimensions</th>
<td>139×98×50 mm<br />
can be applied in most ATX midi and tower cases </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Weight</th>
<td>278 g (355g incl. 92mm fan)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Thermal resistance<br>
at full speed </th>
<td>0.32 K/W (Ultra Low Noise)<br>
0.30 K/W (High End)<br>
0.27 K/W (Extreme Performance) </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Tube dimensions </th>
<td>H: 98 mm, Diameter: 13 mm </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Base dimensions </th>
<td>Diameter: 50 mm, Thickness: 6 mm </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Cooling Liquid</th>
<td>Tetrafluoroethane-1,1,1,2 (R134A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2">Ultra Low Noise Fan </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Noise level</th>
<td>Fan speed regulator low setting: N/A (silent)<br />
Fan speed regulator high setting: <28 dB(A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bearing Type </th>
<td>Hydro wave Bearing </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Input Current </th>
<td>0.2 Amp </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rated Speed </th>
<td>2350 RPM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air flow </th>
<td>17.657 CFM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2">High End Fan </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Noise level</th>
<td>Fan speed regulator low setting: <28 db(A)<br />
Fan speed regulator high setting: 35 dB(A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bearing Type </th>
<td>Sleeve</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Input Current </th>
<td>0.55 Amp </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rated Speed </th>
<td>3800 RPM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air flow </th>
<td>67.0 CFM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2">Extreme Performance Fan </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Noise level</th>
<td>Fan speed regulator low setting: <28 dB(A)<br />
Fan speed regulator high setting: 39 dB(A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bearing Type </th>
<td>Sleeve</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Input Current </th>
<td>0.5 Amp </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rated Speed </th>
<td>3800 RPM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air flow </th>
<td>73.656 CFM </td>
</tr>
</table>
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package2.jpg)
The clear package lets potential customers see how the Vapochill Micro is built. You can open the package without the use of any knife.
Box contents:
VapoChill Micro
Air duct
Low-noise 92mm fan
Four fan mounting pins
PCI fan speed controller + mounting screw (not on high-end version)
Fan and controller wires
Mounting plate
Instruction manual
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/contents_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/contents.jpg)
[page=How it works & The Cooler]
Principle of Operation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/principle.gif
Asetek's Vapochill Micro is based on heatpipe technology. Inside a metal tube a liquid is held at low pressure. Because of gravity, the liquid sinks down to the cooler base. Now when the temperature exceeds the boiling point of the liquid, the liquid evaporates (turns into gas) and rises in the tubing. While it rises, it gives away some of its heat to the surrounding tube, which conducts heat to the fins from where the heat goes into the surrounding air. This slowly cools down the R134A gas. Once the gas reaches a temperature below its boiling point, it condenses on the walls of the tubing and sinks down to the bottom as liquid again. This process is going on indefinitely - it does not create any noise nor is there any mechanical wear.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/airflow.gif
At the bottom of the fan duct is a small opening where air can escape and cool the other components on the motherboard, like memory and power regulation circuitry around the CPU.
The Cooler
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler5.jpg)
Despite its big size (it is taller than a full-height PCI card), the cooler is very light-weight. The cooling fan is installed with some plastic pins, which are very easy to get in, but a pain to get out.
The transparent plastic fan duct is made from very thin material and feels really cheap.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cap_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cap.jpg)
Asetek ships the Vapochill Micro with preapplied thermal paste. The thermal paste is protected by a solid plastic cap, to avoid shipping damage. Personally I do not like this idea, I prefer to use my own thermal paste (Arctic Silver 5). While I am sure Asetek has given good care to the selection of the paste, there is no specification available. Which is why I will use what I know works good for me.
However, for novices this makes the application even easier, since they do not have to mess around with thermal paste and there is no chance that its application will be skipped, because of user error or lazyness.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base3.jpg)
The copper base does not look very flat to me, it also has small dents, scratches and a round indent which seems to be from manufacturing. But performance testing later shows that this does not degrade cooling performance, maybe a good lapping is in order.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller2.jpg)
Asetek ships the Low-Noise and Extreme-Performance versions of the Vapochill Micro with this PCI slot fan controller. It uses Pulse-Width-Modulation for optimum fan control. The range of Low to High is very wide and covers most settings you would want to run a fan at. It is not possible to accidentially turn off the fan by turning the knob all the way to the left.
[pagE=Installation]
Installation
Installation is easy and can be done in a few minutes.
On the Asetek website is claimed that beginners and enthusiasts alike can install the cooler in 30 seconds. I think this is a bit over exxagerated, maybe if you just count the time to put the cooler on the CPU and screw down the screws, but doesn't every cooler take this long to install then?
The manual is very clear about the steps, even computer novices can do it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation5.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation6_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation6.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/screwdriver_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/screwdriver.jpg)
Using my big, favourite screwdriver to screw down the screws is very hard because you can't put it on the screws right. I had some success when I rotated the cooler while it was sitting on the CPU, but this usually messes up the layer of thermal paste. Also during installation the cooler tends to move around a bit, so it is hard to get a good thermal paste application.
[PAGE=Performance, Value & Conclusion]
Performance
We tested the Vapochill Micro on a DFI LanParty NF4 motherboard. SysTool was used to get the CPU temperature. Room temperature was kept at a constant 20°C, verified with an external thermometer near the fan inlet. Also a temperature probe was stuck on the edge of the IHS to get a feeling of the accuracy of the board's temperature measurements. Small changes in room temperature (max. 0.2°C) were manually compensated for.
The cooler was mounted four times, temperatures were observed. Then we remounted (2 times) until we got the best temperature of those four again.
To test the different fans, only the fan was changed, the cooler remained mounted.
When reviewing this article, Morten from Asetek suggested that running without the CPU motherboard bracket might reduce temperature even more. I tried this and saw no temperature difference, however, this might be something to check out if you think your temperatures are too high.
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr align="center">
<th colspan="2" scope="row" style="font-size:larger;text-align:center">Test System</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">CPU:</th>
<td scope="row">AMD Athlon64 3000+ (S939; 512KB; Venice)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Motherboard:</th>
<td scope="row">DFI LanParty NF4 Ultra-D, Bios 5.10-2 Fix<br />nForce4 Ultra</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Memory:</th>
<td scope="row">2x 512MB OCZ Gold GX 2-2-2-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Video Card:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">ATI X850 Pro PCI-E</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Harddisk:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Maxtor DiamondMax 160GB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Power Supply:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">HEC Power475</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Software:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Windows XP SP2, Catalyst 5.8</td>
</tr>
</table>
"Low" means the fan controller on its lowest setting, "High" is its highest setting. If you choose not to connect the fan controller, the fan will automatically run at the "High" setting.
Idle means Windows sitting at the desktop for 30 minutes. Load is after 30 minutes of Prime95. (maximum-heat mode).
First of all, it is not possible to run the Vapochill Micro without a fan. At idle, the temperatures were stable in the 50° region, but once the CPU got loaded, temperature rose quickly - I stopped the test at 80°C.
Later during testing I started Prime95 stress testing and turned away to work on another PC. After a while it made *click* and the benchmarking machine shut off. What happened? The temperature probe measuring the heatspreader's temperature had the answer: 120°C !!! - I forgot to connect the fan's power.
This proves two things. 1. You can not run the Vapochill Micro without a fan and 2. AMD CPUs withstand temperatures of more than 120°C.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/idle.gif
When the system is idle, all fans and settings are really close to each other. The CPU heat output is very low, probably lower than the boiling temperature of the R134A. Looking at the graphs, I would say the boiling temperature is somewhere around 32°C-34°C.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/load.gif
Under load the results get more interesting. On the low setting, both the Extreme and the high-End version result in high temperatures. The Silent version is doing better here. You do have to consider that the High-End version does not come with a fan controller, so the number to look at here is the high setting, that's the speed it would run at without a fan controller connected.
As you would expect, the Extreme version leads the temperature charts on the high speed setting. the high-end version is close behind. Another 2°C higher is the Silent version.
Now you have to consider those results in relation to the fan's sound level.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/soundlevels.gif
Both the Extreme and High-end version are so quiet that you can barely hear them if you put your ear right next to the fan - but this results in seriously degraded cooling performance. While the Low-noise fan is a bit louder, it is still unbelievably quiet on the low-speed setting.
At the high-speed setting the Extreme Performance fan sounds like a vacuum cleaner, reminds me of GeforceFX times. The high-end fan is still a bit loud, but the low-noise fan comes out with a very acceptable sound level.
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
Asetek sells the Vapochill Micro between $50 and $60, depending on the fan. I find this is a fair price.
</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Very quiet (on the low setting)
Good performance
Low weight
Easy to install
Fan controller included
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Fan duct plastic feels cheap
Tall
Fins bend easily
</td></tr>
<tr><th>8.9<br />8.4<br />8.6</th>
<td>The Vapochill Micro is a great innovative product - what else would you expect from Asetek?<br />
It offers good cooling performance, if we leave the High-end fan on the low setting out (the High-End was not designed for use with a fan controller), the load temperatures are only 10°C apart, and all in the safe range of 40°C-50°C.<br />
If you plan on running the Vapochill Micro without a fan controller I can only suggest: Get the Low-noise version and enjoy the perfect compromise between fan noise and cooling performance.<br />
If you are going to use a fan controller, there should be no problem setting the right noise/cooling ratio yourself.<br />
<small>The order of the scores is: Ultra-Low-Noise, High-Performance and Extreme Performance</small>
</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td></td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
I would like to thank Asetek (http://www.asetek.com) and Watercooling.de (http://www.watercooling.de) for making this review possible.
Ultra Low Noise (Fan regulation & Ultra Low Noise Fan)
150W CPU Cooling Capacity
Easy installation
Safe Operation
High Reliability
Low Weight
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/vapochill.gif
When you ask hardcore overclockers about companies who have the best extreme cooling gear, you can bet that Asetek is among the first mentioned. Their Vapochill Extreme Cooling Units are legendary. But those units come with a hefty price tag of over several hundred dollars.
The average user is not willing to pay that much, he does not need such mad cooling performance anyway. Also installation of those units tends to be complicated because you have to insulate all parts against condensation which would form with the subzero temperatures.
In order to offer a product more geared to the more mainstream user, Asetek has engineered the Vapochill Micro series which are based on the same physical principle as the Vapochill Extreme Cooling units.
While the principle is the same, do not expect to reach sub-zero temperatures with the Vapochill Micro, it essentially is a heatpipe cooler, just with some very clever ideas. Asetek's experience in designing high-performance cooling units sure has helped here.
There are three different Vapochill Micro products:
High-End
Extreme Performance
Low-Noise
All three share the same heatsink unit, only the fan is different. The Extreme-Performance and Low-Noise versions also include a fan speed controller.
<table border="1" class="resulttable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th colspan="2">Cooler</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Dimensions</th>
<td>139×98×50 mm<br />
can be applied in most ATX midi and tower cases </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Weight</th>
<td>278 g (355g incl. 92mm fan)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Thermal resistance<br>
at full speed </th>
<td>0.32 K/W (Ultra Low Noise)<br>
0.30 K/W (High End)<br>
0.27 K/W (Extreme Performance) </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Tube dimensions </th>
<td>H: 98 mm, Diameter: 13 mm </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Base dimensions </th>
<td>Diameter: 50 mm, Thickness: 6 mm </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Cooling Liquid</th>
<td>Tetrafluoroethane-1,1,1,2 (R134A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2">Ultra Low Noise Fan </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Noise level</th>
<td>Fan speed regulator low setting: N/A (silent)<br />
Fan speed regulator high setting: <28 dB(A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bearing Type </th>
<td>Hydro wave Bearing </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Input Current </th>
<td>0.2 Amp </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rated Speed </th>
<td>2350 RPM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air flow </th>
<td>17.657 CFM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2">High End Fan </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Noise level</th>
<td>Fan speed regulator low setting: <28 db(A)<br />
Fan speed regulator high setting: 35 dB(A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bearing Type </th>
<td>Sleeve</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Input Current </th>
<td>0.55 Amp </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rated Speed </th>
<td>3800 RPM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air flow </th>
<td>67.0 CFM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2">Extreme Performance Fan </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Noise level</th>
<td>Fan speed regulator low setting: <28 dB(A)<br />
Fan speed regulator high setting: 39 dB(A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Bearing Type </th>
<td>Sleeve</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Input Current </th>
<td>0.5 Amp </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Rated Speed </th>
<td>3800 RPM </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Air flow </th>
<td>73.656 CFM </td>
</tr>
</table>
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/package2.jpg)
The clear package lets potential customers see how the Vapochill Micro is built. You can open the package without the use of any knife.
Box contents:
VapoChill Micro
Air duct
Low-noise 92mm fan
Four fan mounting pins
PCI fan speed controller + mounting screw (not on high-end version)
Fan and controller wires
Mounting plate
Instruction manual
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/contents_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/contents.jpg)
[page=How it works & The Cooler]
Principle of Operation
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/principle.gif
Asetek's Vapochill Micro is based on heatpipe technology. Inside a metal tube a liquid is held at low pressure. Because of gravity, the liquid sinks down to the cooler base. Now when the temperature exceeds the boiling point of the liquid, the liquid evaporates (turns into gas) and rises in the tubing. While it rises, it gives away some of its heat to the surrounding tube, which conducts heat to the fins from where the heat goes into the surrounding air. This slowly cools down the R134A gas. Once the gas reaches a temperature below its boiling point, it condenses on the walls of the tubing and sinks down to the bottom as liquid again. This process is going on indefinitely - it does not create any noise nor is there any mechanical wear.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/airflow.gif
At the bottom of the fan duct is a small opening where air can escape and cool the other components on the motherboard, like memory and power regulation circuitry around the CPU.
The Cooler
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cooler5.jpg)
Despite its big size (it is taller than a full-height PCI card), the cooler is very light-weight. The cooling fan is installed with some plastic pins, which are very easy to get in, but a pain to get out.
The transparent plastic fan duct is made from very thin material and feels really cheap.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cap_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/cap.jpg)
Asetek ships the Vapochill Micro with preapplied thermal paste. The thermal paste is protected by a solid plastic cap, to avoid shipping damage. Personally I do not like this idea, I prefer to use my own thermal paste (Arctic Silver 5). While I am sure Asetek has given good care to the selection of the paste, there is no specification available. Which is why I will use what I know works good for me.
However, for novices this makes the application even easier, since they do not have to mess around with thermal paste and there is no chance that its application will be skipped, because of user error or lazyness.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/base3.jpg)
The copper base does not look very flat to me, it also has small dents, scratches and a round indent which seems to be from manufacturing. But performance testing later shows that this does not degrade cooling performance, maybe a good lapping is in order.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/controller2.jpg)
Asetek ships the Low-Noise and Extreme-Performance versions of the Vapochill Micro with this PCI slot fan controller. It uses Pulse-Width-Modulation for optimum fan control. The range of Low to High is very wide and covers most settings you would want to run a fan at. It is not possible to accidentially turn off the fan by turning the knob all the way to the left.
[pagE=Installation]
Installation
Installation is easy and can be done in a few minutes.
On the Asetek website is claimed that beginners and enthusiasts alike can install the cooler in 30 seconds. I think this is a bit over exxagerated, maybe if you just count the time to put the cooler on the CPU and screw down the screws, but doesn't every cooler take this long to install then?
The manual is very clear about the steps, even computer novices can do it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation5.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation6_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/installation6.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/screwdriver_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/screwdriver.jpg)
Using my big, favourite screwdriver to screw down the screws is very hard because you can't put it on the screws right. I had some success when I rotated the cooler while it was sitting on the CPU, but this usually messes up the layer of thermal paste. Also during installation the cooler tends to move around a bit, so it is hard to get a good thermal paste application.
[PAGE=Performance, Value & Conclusion]
Performance
We tested the Vapochill Micro on a DFI LanParty NF4 motherboard. SysTool was used to get the CPU temperature. Room temperature was kept at a constant 20°C, verified with an external thermometer near the fan inlet. Also a temperature probe was stuck on the edge of the IHS to get a feeling of the accuracy of the board's temperature measurements. Small changes in room temperature (max. 0.2°C) were manually compensated for.
The cooler was mounted four times, temperatures were observed. Then we remounted (2 times) until we got the best temperature of those four again.
To test the different fans, only the fan was changed, the cooler remained mounted.
When reviewing this article, Morten from Asetek suggested that running without the CPU motherboard bracket might reduce temperature even more. I tried this and saw no temperature difference, however, this might be something to check out if you think your temperatures are too high.
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr align="center">
<th colspan="2" scope="row" style="font-size:larger;text-align:center">Test System</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th width="100" scope="row">CPU:</th>
<td scope="row">AMD Athlon64 3000+ (S939; 512KB; Venice)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Motherboard:</th>
<td scope="row">DFI LanParty NF4 Ultra-D, Bios 5.10-2 Fix<br />nForce4 Ultra</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Memory:</th>
<td scope="row">2x 512MB OCZ Gold GX 2-2-2-5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Video Card:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">ATI X850 Pro PCI-E</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Harddisk:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Maxtor DiamondMax 160GB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Power Supply:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">HEC Power475</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Software:</th>
<td valign="top" scope="row">Windows XP SP2, Catalyst 5.8</td>
</tr>
</table>
"Low" means the fan controller on its lowest setting, "High" is its highest setting. If you choose not to connect the fan controller, the fan will automatically run at the "High" setting.
Idle means Windows sitting at the desktop for 30 minutes. Load is after 30 minutes of Prime95. (maximum-heat mode).
First of all, it is not possible to run the Vapochill Micro without a fan. At idle, the temperatures were stable in the 50° region, but once the CPU got loaded, temperature rose quickly - I stopped the test at 80°C.
Later during testing I started Prime95 stress testing and turned away to work on another PC. After a while it made *click* and the benchmarking machine shut off. What happened? The temperature probe measuring the heatspreader's temperature had the answer: 120°C !!! - I forgot to connect the fan's power.
This proves two things. 1. You can not run the Vapochill Micro without a fan and 2. AMD CPUs withstand temperatures of more than 120°C.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/idle.gif
When the system is idle, all fans and settings are really close to each other. The CPU heat output is very low, probably lower than the boiling temperature of the R134A. Looking at the graphs, I would say the boiling temperature is somewhere around 32°C-34°C.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/load.gif
Under load the results get more interesting. On the low setting, both the Extreme and the high-End version result in high temperatures. The Silent version is doing better here. You do have to consider that the High-End version does not come with a fan controller, so the number to look at here is the high setting, that's the speed it would run at without a fan controller connected.
As you would expect, the Extreme version leads the temperature charts on the high speed setting. the high-end version is close behind. Another 2°C higher is the Silent version.
Now you have to consider those results in relation to the fan's sound level.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Asetek/VapochillMicro/images/soundlevels.gif
Both the Extreme and High-end version are so quiet that you can barely hear them if you put your ear right next to the fan - but this results in seriously degraded cooling performance. While the Low-noise fan is a bit louder, it is still unbelievably quiet on the low-speed setting.
At the high-speed setting the Extreme Performance fan sounds like a vacuum cleaner, reminds me of GeforceFX times. The high-end fan is still a bit loud, but the low-noise fan comes out with a very acceptable sound level.
Value and Conclusion
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<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
Asetek sells the Vapochill Micro between $50 and $60, depending on the fan. I find this is a fair price.
</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Very quiet (on the low setting)
Good performance
Low weight
Easy to install
Fan controller included
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Fan duct plastic feels cheap
Tall
Fins bend easily
</td></tr>
<tr><th>8.9<br />8.4<br />8.6</th>
<td>The Vapochill Micro is a great innovative product - what else would you expect from Asetek?<br />
It offers good cooling performance, if we leave the High-end fan on the low setting out (the High-End was not designed for use with a fan controller), the load temperatures are only 10°C apart, and all in the safe range of 40°C-50°C.<br />
If you plan on running the Vapochill Micro without a fan controller I can only suggest: Get the Low-noise version and enjoy the perfect compromise between fan noise and cooling performance.<br />
If you are going to use a fan controller, there should be no problem setting the right noise/cooling ratio yourself.<br />
<small>The order of the scores is: Ultra-Low-Noise, High-Performance and Extreme Performance</small>
</td></tr>
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